Projector



Feb, 11, 1936. R. E. WILSON 2,030,489

PROJECTOR Filed Jan. 15, 1934 I 270; 2/ @2/ 20 I 52/0. 4Q .59 25;

9a., @454, v @Qu/ Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROJECTOR Russell E. Wilson, Cleveland, Ohio Application January 15, 1934, Serial No. 706,649

8 Claims.

This invention relates to spot lights and particularly to those that are used for theatres, dance pavillions and the like for projecting colored light and relates also to those that are utilized for projecting advertisements upon a screen.

Heretofore variations in the color of projected light has necessitated the use of a large disc which is mounted for rotation on a horizontal axis at 10 one side of the projector, and which has a series of colored discs arranged at intervals near the periphery thereof. An operator rotates the disc to project the desired color. This apparatus is quite bulky in appearance, and is unsuited for dance pavillion work, because it requires too much space and has too much opaque material between the adjacent translucent discs. For dance pavilion use it is desirable to obtain gradual continuous change of color upon the floor, and to utilize a machine which can be mounted in an inconspicuous place.

As applied to projectors that are used for advertising purposes, particularly those where an advertisement is projected for a small length of time and is then followed by subsequent advertisements, an automatic mechanism for making the change has utilized a conveyor belt with film or plate holders which are progressively moved by the belt into the beam light and thus projected onto a screen for a sufficient length of time to permit an observer to read advertisement. This apparatus however, has been complicated and expensive to manufacture and has required considerable space while in use. This type of apparatus is initially objectionable because of the high expense and is also objectionable because of the fact that it occupies, an excessive amount of space in a show window.

An object of the present invention is to make 40 a simple apparatus for economically projecting a light, the color of which will be automatically varied progressively, and at predetermined intervals without noticeably interrupting the beam of light during the change from one color to 5 another.

An additional object is to provide an apparatus which is suitable for projecting advertisements upon a screen and. for automatically changing the advertisement at predetermined intervals so so that a sequence may be shown and then repeated automatically.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan of my improved projector; Fig. '2 is a front elevation partially in section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, and. Fig 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of projector, which is especially adapted for the projection of lantern slides.

Referring again to the drawing, wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown a horizontally extending cylindrical lamp housing l0, supported by suitable pedestal base I l. The lamp housing is secured to the base by a pivotal connection l2 which is arranged to be adjustably clamped in position by a suitable wing nut I5 for varying m the angle at which the beam of light is projected. Within the housing I have shown suitable source of illumination, such as a lamp It. The rearward end of the housing is closed and is preferably provided with a suitable reflector 15 unit, not shown. The front end of the housing is open, and is provided with the usual projection lens ll, by means of which a beam of light may be projected forwardly, as desired.

To obtain a colored beam of light, I provide a translucent color screen in front of the lamp, and I have so arranged the screen that any one of several colors may be projected. As shown, I have provided a seven-sided polygonal hollow frame member 20, which encircles the lamp housing. Each face of the frame 20 is slightly larger than the lens IT.

The frame 20 preferably comprises an upper polygonal frame member 2| and a lower similarly shaped member 22. These are spaced apart 30 by vertically extending spacing members 23, which are attached to the corners of the frame members. The spacing or corner members 23 may extend upwardly beyond the upper surface of the frame member 22, and may then be bent 35 inwardly toward the center of the polygon, where they are secured to a hub member 24, which in turn is shown as being supported by a vertically extending stud 25 that is carried by the lamp housing. A suitable nut 26 vertically engages the stud 25 and retains the frame in position. Thus, the frame provides a series of open faces 28 any one of which may be positioned in front of the lens I! by merely rotating the frame about its pivot.

To color the beam of light, each face 28 of the frame 20 is provided with a translucent colored member 3!] composed of material such as cellophane or glass. As shown, these colored members 30 are retained in position against the frame members 2|, 22 and 23 by suitable complementary shaped frame members, such as are indicated at 2|a and 23a and such members are secured to the inner surfaces of their corresponding frame members by suitable bolts 29. Hence, as the frame 20 is rotated, the translucent member 30, having the desired color is swung into position in front of the lamp, thereby coloring the beam of light.

The arrangement is such that the color of the beam is periodically changed, and for this purpose I provide a simple mechanism for automatically rotating the frame 20. As shown in the drawing, I have provided a motor 35, which is supported beneath the frame 20 by a supplementary frame member 36 which is carried by the lamp housing. This motor through bevel gearing 31, drives avertically extending shaft 39 mounted in bearings so and 40 in the frame member 36 and the motor frame respectively, and projects upwardly, between the lamp housing and the frame 20, to a point adjacent the upper edge of the frame. Mounted on the upper end of the shaft 39 is a wheel 4|, having as many arms 42 as the polygonal frame 20 has sides. On each of the arms 42 is an upstanding pin 43, arranged to engage arms 66, carried by the hub member 2 3 heretofore mentioned. This arrangement is in the nature of a Geneva motion, and so as a pin progresses, it automatically picks up one of the arms 46 and carries the frame through, as shown, a seventh of a revolution, thereby moving the color screen 30a from in front of the lens I1 and moving the color screen 3012 into position before the color screen. It will be noted that the upstanding members 23 of the frame 20 are comparatively narrow. Hence, during the movement of the frame 20 they will not interrupt the beam of light to an objectionable degree.

My invention contemplates the construction of an apparatus for accomplishing this in an extremely small space, thus providing a small compact portable unit that is inexpensive to manufacture. While I have shown a screen driving apparatus which operates to rotate the screen continuously, it is apparent that if desired I may utilize only one pin on the wheel 4|, and thus effect an intermittent rotation of the screen. If a faster intermittent motion is desired, pins may be mounted, for example, on alternate arms.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, I have provided each of the spaces 28 of the polygonal frame 2:) with a closure 50. Each closure 50 carries a slideway 5! into which is inserted a suitable lantern slide L. I have also in this modification provided a suitable rectifying lens 53, supported by an auxiliary frame member 52, which is secured to the frame 36, and which projects forwardly thereof to support the rectifying lens.

The projector of Fig. 3 is suitable for advertising purposes, and in such case it is desirable to utilize an intermittent motion for obviously, it is necessary to hold the advertisement stationary for a sufficient length of time to permit it to be read by an observer. A mechanism which is suitable for such purpose is similar to that hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a very simple compact and efficient spot light, which is arranged to change automatically the color of light or slide being projected, and which may be economically manufactured.

I claim:

l. A light projection apparatus, comprising a cylindrical housing horizontally disposed, a source of illumination therein, a frame encircling said housing and adapted to carry a series of units through which a beam of light may be projected, a centrally located swivel connection extending vertically from the top portion of said housing and said frame, a supplementary frame member carried by the lower portion of said housing and means supported by said supplementary frame member to rotate said frame intermittently a fraction of a revolution tobring successive units into position to be projected by the beam of light.

2. A light projection apparatus, comprising a lamp housing, a lamp therein, a light projecting opening in said housing, a hollow frame encircling said housing, said frame comprising upper and lower frame members placed respectively above and below said projectional member, comparatively narrow spacing members in said frame and secured to the surface, thereby providing a series of openings slightly larger than the projectional openings, means connecting said upper frame member to a centrally located hub, a substantially vertically extending shaft carried by said housing and arranged to coact with said hub to rotatably support the hollow frame, a motor carried by said housing, a shaft operatively connected to said motor and extending upwardly between said housing and said frame, and means coacting with said shaft and said frame to rotate the shaft and to intermittently rotate said frame.

3. A light projection apparatus, comprising a cylindrical lamp housing having a lamp mounted therein, a polygonal hollow frame encircling said housing and having a plurality of substantially vertically extending faces adapted to carry a series of units through which a beam of light may be projected, a centrally located swivel connection extending vertically between top portion of said housing and said frame, a supplementary frame carried by the lower portion of said housing and means including a motor and gearing supported by said supplementary frame to intermittently rotate said frame to bring successive faces into position relative to the housing.

4. A light projection apparatus, comprising a lamp housing, a lamp therein, a light projection opening in said housing, a hollow frame member encircling said housing, said frame comprising upper and lower polygonal frame members spaced respectively above and below said projection opening, comparatively narrow spacing members to space said frame members apart and secured to certain of the corners thereof, thereby providing a series of openings slightly larger than the projection opening, certain of said spacing members being bent inwardly adjacent their upper ends, a centrally located hub connecting said spacer members, a substantially vertically extending shaft carried by said lamp housing and arranged to coact with said hub to rotatably support the hollow frame, a motor carried by said housing, a shaft operatively connected to said motor and extending upwardly between said housing and said frame, a series of radially extending arms carried by said shaft adjacent its upper ends, said hub being provided with a series of radially extending arms arranged to coact respectively with the arms of said shaft and to intermittently rotate said frame and a series of varied colored transparent members carried by said frame.

5. A light projection apparatus, comprising a cylindrical lamp housing, a lamp therein, a light projecting opening in said housing, a hollow polygonal frame encircling said housing, said frame comprising upper and lower horizontally disposed polygonal frame members spaced apart and being in planes respectively above and. below said projection opening, comparatively narrow vertically extending spacing members to space said frame members apart and secured to certain of the corners thereof, thereby providing a series of openings slightly larger than the projection opening, a centrally located swivel connection extending vertically between said polygonal frame and the upper wall of said housing a supplementary frame carried by the lower portion of said housing and means secured to said supplementary frame to intermittently rotate said frame including a series of radially extending arms carried by said frame, and means to intermittently engage successive arms, and a series of projection screens, carried by the faces of said frame.

6. A light projecting apparatus comprising in combination a source of illumination, a casing having an opening through which a beam of light may be directed, a hood mounted on the casing by a single swivel connection a plurality of translucent members carried by the hood, said last named members enclosing the casing in its entirety, a motor carried by the casing, and gearing operatively connecting the motor to the hood.

7. A light projecting apparatus comprising in combination, a source of illumination, a casing having an opening through which a beam of light may be directed, a hood mounted on the casing by a single swivel connection a plurality of trans.- lucent members carried by the hood, said last named members enclosing the casing in its entirety, a motor carried by the casing, and gearing operatively connecting the motor to the hood, said gearing extending upwardly through the hood and being also enclosed by it.

8. A light projecting apparatus comprising in combination, a source of illumination, a casing having an opening through which light may be confined to a single beam, a hood having a plurality of translucent screens thereon mounted on the top portion of the casing by a single swivel connection and enclosing said casing in its entirety, a motor carried by the casing, and gearing extending upwardly through the hood and being also enclosed by the hood, said gearing including means for intermittently rotating the hood.

RUSSELL E. WILSON. 

